And yet again and again, I keep coming to you for advice. Mayhaps that is because you are quite skilled at it, and I can burn it into his mind its importance.
[He shakes his head.]
I will head out in a moment, but go on. What is this 'kintsugi'?
"How sweet." He smiles, pulling Hades closer to give him a brief kiss on the cheek.
"Kintsugi is a technique of restoring broken objects using precious metals to mend the cracks. The philosophy behind it is that breakage and repair is part of the object's history, rather than something to be ashamed of - or worse, to discard it over. Would you not say that is a fitting lesson for young Hythlodaeus? He does fret so over his perceived... incompleteness."
"It is a little bit of both. The scars he's earned here... well, there is nothing to be done for them, other than letting them heal. What would you do otherwise? Erase his memories of Hell? Tinker with his soul when you return? I imagine that is not a path you truly wish to follow. As for the second matter..."
He sighs.
"Do you truly expect him to be unaffected by something like that? You've seen the last memory he took. You've seen his reaction when you tried to tell him of the Final Days and the fate of our star. How do you expect him to not be pained by that?"
I would not tamper with his memories, but perhaps he does not realize this. How I despise it so. It is for that reason I've avoided getting all of BARiTONES abilities. And secondly, he has made connections here that he would cherish long after he departs.
[He considers that for a moment.]
I never doubted it would pain him or shape his heart. But unlike his time here, what good comes from remembering the after. Not that his shattered pieces recall their memories anyway.
But no, I never doubted it would affect him.
It is what he would do after that has always worried me.
[He shakes his head.]
But all of that can come later. I have shards to collect after all. Will you come with, or must you carry out your shadowy vigil?
"Just for you, I shall do my best to make it extremely shadowy."
His tone is joking, but then he gives Emet a calculating look.
"'What he would do after', hmm? Well, you've already seen his reaction. Grief, sorrow, even deeper loss of his sense of belonging. Did you fear that he would try to destroy himself?"
No. Spiral most assuredly, but ever has his wit been his strength. He would not fade would there still be a chance.
[He hops off the desk and takes Cosmo's face in his hands and kisses his forehead.]
Does Levity know how deep your own love for him goes? How you would tear away pieces of your own self to ensure that the rest of us might live? I hope he does to not only appreciate, but so that he can be my ally when you push yourself too far.
Now I have my work to do, and you yours. Ever was that our lot. Do take care.
"He does know, yet he does not. He knows because he, too, would sacrifice himself readily if it meant that our people might be saved. That... you and "I"... would be happy and safe, the wounds of those twelve millennia completely healed. He knows I care for him greatly. Yet his fear of the divide between us, his inevitable naivete and our jadedness, thousands of years in the making... He does feel a little excluded - or perhaps that he is not enough. But such things are not always rational, as you well know."
He tiptoes again to give Emet a forehead kiss in return! The slouching helps.
"Now, one last advice before you move on - if you wish to help him deal with his scars from his time in Hell, head downstairs. Surely, I needn't warn you about what you might discover there. And if it is his worries about the past and the future you wish to assist with... there is no way but up."
Excluded? Perhaps we should let him privy on one of our conversations where we dance around each other with the best intentions, not able to put thought into to word despite our best attempts. If only we were able speak so freely to each other as others image we can.
But I do not doubt his heart. That he would not give as much if not more than we have.
[He pauses at the return kiss, thinking heavily.]
I do not trust myself to not meddle in ways I would normally not, but I cannot leave this to others. Take care, my friend.
"You may speak in jest, Hades, but that truly would help him feel closer to you both. Not to mention give him a chance to meddle, and you know how much he enjoys that."
He waves Emet off with a smile, though.
"Take care too, my dear friend. And hold onto your faith in Hythlodaeus. He is stronger than he thinks, but we all need each other to keep us from slipping."
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Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
[He shakes his head.]
I will head out in a moment, but go on. What is this 'kintsugi'?
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
"How sweet." He smiles, pulling Hades closer to give him a brief kiss on the cheek.
"Kintsugi is a technique of restoring broken objects using precious metals to mend the cracks. The philosophy behind it is that breakage and repair is part of the object's history, rather than something to be ashamed of - or worse, to discard it over. Would you not say that is a fitting lesson for young Hythlodaeus? He does fret so over his perceived... incompleteness."
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
If you mean the scars from here, well, I could be convinced to accept them. They are a form of growth in its own way, begrudgingly I can admit.
As for the rest, there is no need for him to bear any scars from it. Not from that great tragedy.
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
"It is a little bit of both. The scars he's earned here... well, there is nothing to be done for them, other than letting them heal. What would you do otherwise? Erase his memories of Hell? Tinker with his soul when you return? I imagine that is not a path you truly wish to follow. As for the second matter..."
He sighs.
"Do you truly expect him to be unaffected by something like that? You've seen the last memory he took. You've seen his reaction when you tried to tell him of the Final Days and the fate of our star. How do you expect him to not be pained by that?"
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
[He considers that for a moment.]
I never doubted it would pain him or shape his heart. But unlike his time here, what good comes from remembering the after. Not that his shattered pieces recall their memories anyway.
But no, I never doubted it would affect him.
It is what he would do after that has always worried me.
[He shakes his head.]
But all of that can come later. I have shards to collect after all. Will you come with, or must you carry out your shadowy vigil?
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
"Just for you, I shall do my best to make it extremely shadowy."
His tone is joking, but then he gives Emet a calculating look.
"'What he would do after', hmm? Well, you've already seen his reaction. Grief, sorrow, even deeper loss of his sense of belonging. Did you fear that he would try to destroy himself?"
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
[He hops off the desk and takes Cosmo's face in his hands and kisses his forehead.]
Does Levity know how deep your own love for him goes? How you would tear away pieces of your own self to ensure that the rest of us might live? I hope he does to not only appreciate, but so that he can be my ally when you push yourself too far.
Now I have my work to do, and you yours. Ever was that our lot. Do take care.
[And he will head further in.]
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
He smiles at the kiss, albeit a little sadly.
"He does know, yet he does not. He knows because he, too, would sacrifice himself readily if it meant that our people might be saved. That... you and "I"... would be happy and safe, the wounds of those twelve millennia completely healed. He knows I care for him greatly. Yet his fear of the divide between us, his inevitable naivete and our jadedness, thousands of years in the making... He does feel a little excluded - or perhaps that he is not enough. But such things are not always rational, as you well know."
He tiptoes again to give Emet a forehead kiss in return! The slouching helps.
"Now, one last advice before you move on - if you wish to help him deal with his scars from his time in Hell, head downstairs. Surely, I needn't warn you about what you might discover there. And if it is his worries about the past and the future you wish to assist with... there is no way but up."
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
But I do not doubt his heart. That he would not give as much if not more than we have.
[He pauses at the return kiss, thinking heavily.]
I do not trust myself to not meddle in ways I would normally not, but I cannot leave this to others. Take care, my friend.
[He heads up.]
Re: BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT
"You may speak in jest, Hades, but that truly would help him feel closer to you both. Not to mention give him a chance to meddle, and you know how much he enjoys that."
He waves Emet off with a smile, though.
"Take care too, my dear friend. And hold onto your faith in Hythlodaeus. He is stronger than he thinks, but we all need each other to keep us from slipping."
Onward! To potentially spooky things!